---
title: 'HTS Scientist at Ginkgo Bioworks Inc.'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/hts-scientist-ginkgo-bioworks-inc-boston-qktc4azxwkhd'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-12'
---

# HTS Scientist at Ginkgo Bioworks Inc.

- **Company:** Ginkgo Bioworks Inc.
- **Location:** Boston, MA
- **Posted:** 2026-07-06
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-12
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/ginkgobioworks/jobs/5179478007

## Job description

Our mission is to make biology easier to engineer. Ginkgo is constructing, editing, and redesigning the living world in order to answer the globe’s growing challenges in health, energy, food, materials, and more. Our bioengineers make use of an in-house automated foundry for designing and building new organisms.

About Ginkgo Datapoints: Ginkgo Datapoints, a newly established business unit within Ginkgo Bioworks, is poised to usher in the coming era of AI-backed biotechnology breakthroughs. By leveraging Ginkgo's state-of-the-art automation and digital infrastructure, Datapoints aims to address the growing demand for high-quality, large-scale biological datasets essential for training AI models in drug discovery and development. Unlock AI to unlock biology.

Position Overview: We are seeking a Scientist to join our High Throughput Screening (HTS) wet-lab team at Ginkgo Datapoints. This role is ideal for someone passionate about lab automation, assay development, high-throughput screening, and process optimization, eager to onboard assays onto workcells and increase throughput.

## Key Responsibilities

- Execute primary screens and downstream plate reader assays on automated systems with minimal supervision.
- Perform rigorous quality control of screening results, monitoring assay robustness (e.g., Z’ and CVs) to ensure all data is accurately posted to electronic notebooks and uploaded to databases.
- Test, maintain, and troubleshoot robotic platforms and liquid handlers, including the Echo, Hamilton, and Lynx, to ensure peak performance and minimal downtime.
- Maintain impeccable lab records while supporting routine laboratory maintenance and safe lab practices.
- Partner with science teams to develop, optimize, and adapt biochemical and cell-based assays into 384- and 1536-well formats.
- Collaborate with bench scientists to transition manual assays onto fully automated screening systems and robotic workcells.
- Proactively identify and implement process improvements to increase throughput and drive overall screening efficiency.

Desired Experience and Capabilities

- BS or MS in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Pharmacology, or a related field with at least 3 years of industry experience in HTS or automation.
- Hands-on proficiency operating and troubleshooting common HTS equipment such as the Echo, Prime/Lynx/Hamilton, EL406/Tempest/Combi liquid handlers, and Pherastar readers.
- Proven ability to diagnose and resolve hardware or software issues on automated platforms like HRB workcells or Hamilton systems.
- Experience with automated scheduling software (Cellario) and LIMS/database environments is highly preferred.
- Familiarity with high-content imaging platforms or compound management workflows is a significant plus.
- Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic culture with a strong sense of urgency and focus on high-quality deliverables.
- Effective communication skills to ensure alignment across cross-functional project teams and external stakeholders.

Why Join Ginkgo Datapoints?

- Work at the cutting edge of AI/ML and automation in drug discovery.
- Contribute to biologically relevant high-throughput screening efforts.
- Join a passionate team dedicated to scientific innovation.
- Competitive compensation and benefits.

The base salary range for this role is $70,800 to $106,100 Actual pay within this range will depend on a candidate's skills, expertise, and experience. We also offer company stock awards, a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental & vision coverage, health spending accounts, voluntary benefits, leave of absence policies, 401(k) program with employer contribution, 8 paid holidays in addition to a full-week winter shutdown and unlimited Paid Time Off policy.

Ginkgo has implemented a full-time onsite work policy requiring employees to work in the office five (5) days per week. This policy applies to all employees who live within 50 miles of Ginkgo's offices in Boston, MA, Emeryville, CA, and West Sacramento, CA. Candidates will be informed of this onsite requirement during the interview process

It is the policy of Ginkgo Bioworks to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees, employment applicants, and EOE disability/vet.

Privacy Notice

I understand that I am applying for employment with Ginkgo Bioworks and am being asked to provide information in connection with my application. I further understand that Ginkgo gathers this information through a third-party service provider and that Ginkgo may also use other service providers to assist in the application process.  Ginkgo may share my information with such third-party service providers in connection with my application and for the start of employment.  Ginkgo will treat my information in accordance with Ginkgo's [Privacy Policy](https://www.ginkgobioworks.com/concentric-privacy-policy/).  By submitting this job application, I am acknowledging that I have reviewed and agree to Ginkgo's [Privacy Policy](https://www.ginkgobioworks.com/concentric-privacy-policy/) as well as the privacy policies of the third-party service providers used by Ginkgo's associated with the application process.

## About Ginkgo Bioworks Inc.

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Ginkgo Bioworks builds and operates autonomous labs that replace manual benchwork with robotics, enabling scientists to program biology for applications across biopharma, agriculture, and industrial biotechnology.
- **Entity Type**: Public (NYSE: DNA)
- **Headquarters**: Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- **Founded**: 2009
- **Founders**: Jason Kelly, Reshma Shetty, Barry Canton, Austin Che, Tom Knight

## Core Business
- Primary industry: Biotechnology Research, Synthetic Biology, Autonomous Labs
- Target customers: Biopharma, agriculture, and industrial biotech companies (B2B, Enterprise)
- Mission: "Build the tools that make biology easier to engineer for everyone" — with a vision that "our children will program biology like we once programmed computers."

## Products & Services
- **[Autonomous Lab Platform]**: A robotics-driven laboratory system where scientists can order experimental work to be run by robots, replacing manual benchwork. Available as Ginkgo’s in-house lab or as a "cloud lab" service.
- **[Ginkgo Datapoints]**: A contract research service offering small molecule developability, high-throughput screening, and ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion) services.
- **[Ginkgo Solutions]**: Custom contract research and development services for customer-specific biotech projects.
- **[Catalyst Agent]**: A tool that lets scientists "run your experiments on Ginkgo's autonomous lab in Boston, virtually."
- **[Biosecurity Software]**: A software offering focused on biosecurity applications.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Publicly traded (NYSE: DNA); market cap fluctuates — as of mid-2025, the company had a market cap in the range of ~$1-2 billion (check current quote). IPO date: September 17, 2021.
- **Total Funding**: $3.31 billion (cumulative, including IPO and post-IPO equity)
- **Key Metric**: Annual Revenue — Not publicly available in search results; the company reports financials in SEC filings. Headcount: ~454 employees (-36% YoY, reflecting a significant restructuring).
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Flagship Pioneering, Takeda, Sanofi, Novartis, Bayer, and others. Key acquisitions include FGen (2022), Circularis Biotechnologies (2022), Altar (2022), Bitome (2022), and AgBiome’s GENESIS Platform (2024).
- **Growth Signals**: Trusted by over 130 customers; operates in 10 countries; strong government partnerships (CEO Jason Kelly previously chaired the U.S. National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology); active job postings up 175% YoY (though from a low base).

## Competitive Advantages
- **Autonomous Lab Leadership**: Ginkgo is pioneering the shift from manual benchwork to fully automated, robot-run labs — a significant moat in productivity and scalability.
- **Founding Team**: Founders are pioneers in synthetic biology (e.g., Tom Knight is considered the "father of synthetic biology"; Jason Kelly chaired the U.S. National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology).
- **Platform Approach**: The "cell programming platform" allows biology to be engineered more like software, enabling applications across diverse markets (food, fragrance, pharmaceuticals).
- **Government & Biosecurity Ties**: Deep relationships with U.S. government agencies for biosecurity and national security applications.

## Strategic Focus
- **Autonomous Lab Expansion**: Scaling the autonomous lab platform and making it available as a "cloud lab" to external customers.
- **Commercialization**: Moving from R&D to commercial revenue through Datapoints and Solutions services.
- **Cost Optimization**: The 36% headcount reduction suggests a focus on operational efficiency and path to profitability.
- **Biosecurity**: Leveraging government partnerships for biosecurity software and services.

## Why Work Here
- **Cutting-Edge Mission**: Work at the intersection of biology, robotics, and software — "program biology like we once programmed computers."
- **Engineering Culture**: Heavy emphasis on software engineering for autonomous lab systems (robotics, scheduling, optimization, driver development) — roles for senior software engineers, automation engineers, and hardware engineers.
- **Locations**: Primary hub in Boston, Massachusetts (headquarters); second office in Emeryville, California. Some remote roles (e.g., Director, Government Partnership Development).
- **Culture**: Described as a place where scientists "focus on insight, creativity, and judgment rather than manual lab work." Internships available in software, automation, and commercial operations.
- **Perks**: Not explicitly detailed in search results, but typical for a public biotech: equity, health benefits, and the chance to work on world-changing problems.
- **Important Note**: The company has undergone a 36% headcount reduction in the past year — potential job seekers should be aware of restructuring and recent departures of senior leaders (e.g., Head of Commercial, Director of National Security partnerships).

## Sources
1. [ginkgo.bio](https://www.ginkgo.bio/)
2. [ginkgo.bio/about](https://ginkgo.bio/about)
3. [LinkedIn - Ginkgo Bioworks](https://www.linkedin.com/company/ginkgo-bioworks)
4. [Greenhouse - Ginkgo Bioworks Jobs](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/ginkgobioworks)

## Other roles at Ginkgo Bioworks Inc.

- [Scientist, AI/ML — Antibody Developability](https://feeny.ai/job/scientist-ai-ml-antibody-developability-ginkgo-bioworks-inc-california-zt4jk6yhnwgq) — California, United States
- [Cheminformatics & Synthesis Prediction](https://feeny.ai/job/cheminformatics-synthesis-prediction-ginkgo-bioworks-inc-boston-8fbkktyfwggy) — Boston, MA
- [Computational Synthetic Chemist](https://feeny.ai/job/computational-synthetic-chemist-ginkgo-bioworks-inc-boston-ymnk9r1yjcph) — Boston, MA
- [Senior Director, Multiomics](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-director-multiomics-ginkgo-bioworks-inc-boston-1055fh6ggbb1) — Boston, MA
- [Senior Mechatronics Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mechatronics-engineer-ginkgo-bioworks-inc-emeryville-nxd8vvdz2s3h) — Emeryville, CA
- [Senior Product Manager, Reagents](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-product-manager-reagents-ginkgo-bioworks-inc-boston-x6ta5j76xcs4) — Boston, MA
- [Laboratory Technician III, Antibody Production & Characterization](https://feeny.ai/job/laboratory-technician-iii-antibody-production-characterization-ginkgo-bioworks-zfd0pecd2evy) — Boston, MA
- [Senior Manufacturing Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-manufacturing-engineer-ginkgo-bioworks-inc-california-tg6ewj5c5b0w) — California, United States
- [Senior Software Engineer, Autonomous Lab (Scheduling & Optimization)](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-autonomous-lab-scheduling-optimization-ginkgo-bioworks-tsysyfd50hr5) — Boston, MA
- [Software Engineer 2, Autonomous Lab](https://feeny.ai/job/software-engineer-2-autonomous-lab-ginkgo-bioworks-inc-boston-z1c4qtm2axyf) — Boston, MA